Gas Oven Repair

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Gas ovens in gas ranges require little maintenance. This Fix-It Guide on gas oven repair tells how a gas oven works, what can goes wrong, how to identify a gas oven problem, and what parts and tools you will need to fix it. It then gives simple step-by-step instructions for how to re-light an oven pilot, how to clean a gas oven burner, how to adjust an oven flame, how to check and replace a gas oven spark igniter, how to check and replace a glow bar, how to service an oven door, how to replace oven gaskets, and how to replace gas oven door-mounted gaskets.

How Does a Gas Oven Work?

Components of a typical gas oven and cooktop.

A gas oven is the baking chamber fueled by natural or propane gas. Some gas ovens have a pilot light that stays lit all the time, igniting the burners as needed. Newer models have spark igniters or an electrically heated coil, called a glow bar or glow plug to ignite the gas on demand. Igniters are wired to an ignition module that produces the high voltage required for sparking. A thermostat controls oven temperature by regulating the gas supply to the oven. If you’re having trouble with the cooktop attached to your gas oven, see the Gas Cooktop Fix-It Guide.

What Can Go Wrong with a Gas Oven?

The pilot light may go out. The burner ports may need clearing. The igniter and ignition module can malfunction. The fuse and glow bar (if equipped) can fail. The door may need adjusting and gaskets may need replacing. The thermostat or capillary tube may be faulty. The pilot may need adjusting. The burner flame may need adjusting.

Caution!

Make sure you know how to shut off the gas to your oven for repairs and in case of emergency.

How Can I Identify a Gas Oven Problem?

If the oven burner doesn’t light and it has an electric igniter, make sure that the range is plugged in and that there is power from the electrical service panel. R-elight or adjust the pilot (see below), clear the burner ports (see below), and inspect the igniter and ignition module on ovens with electric igniters (see below). Also test the Fuse (below the oven bottom and baffle, next to the safety valve) and glow bar on ovens with glow bar igniters (see below).

If the oven doesn’t work at the set temperature or the oven bakes unevenly, check the door (see below) and gasket (see below); clear the burner ports (see below); or call for service on a thermostat or capillary tube.

If the self-cleaning cycle of an oven doesn’t work, check the owner’s manual for instructions. Then check the door (see below) and gaskets (see below), or call for service on a thermostat or capillary tube, as needed.

Caution!

Self-cleaning ovens often have a capillary tube that contains a caustic fluid. Wear rubber gloves and handle it gently.

Newer gas ovens may have digital controls that aren’t serviceable by the consumer. Check the owner’s manual for troubleshooting tips and how to get plug-in replacement parts as needed. Some units also have diagnostic tests and error codes that tell you what’s wrong with the unit.

What Do I Need for Gas Oven Repair?

Replacement parts are available from local appliance parts stores, the manufacturer, and aftermarket suppliers. The tools you might need to fix a gas oven include these:

Screwdrivers

Wrenches

Nut driver

Sewing needle

Multimeter

What Are the Steps to Gas Oven Repair?

Fix-It Tip

Any repairs that involve the gas supply lines should be handled by a professional service technician.

Relight a gas oven pilot:

Turn all controls OFF, open the doors, and allow gas to dissipate.

Hold a lighted match near the tip of the pilot on the burner assembly. If a burner does not light within two minutes, adjust the pilot, step 3.

Turn the pilot adjustment screw (located near the pilot or the thermostat) in small increments and retest until the pilot has a blue flame.

Clean a gas oven burner:

Turn all the appliance controls to OFF.

Remove the oven bottom (typically held in place by tabs or fasteners).

Remove the baffle beneath the oven bottom.

Turn on the oven and watch the burner. If the flame is not continuous along the length of the burner, some flame ports may be clogged. Turn off the oven and let the burner cool, then clear each port in the burner with a sewing needle.

Fix-It Tip

What should a well-adjusted gas oven flame look like? It should be blue in color, symmetrically shaped, and about 1/2 inch tall. A ragged, hissing flame indicates too much air. A yellow orange flame indicates too little air. Before adjusting, make sure the oven is turned off and cool.

Adjust a gas oven flame:

Turn all of the appliance controls to OFF. Open the door and remove the oven bottom and baffle (see above).

Turn on the oven and inspect the flame.

Identify the air shutter that will be adjusted. It may be at the base of the oven burner, just above the safety valve, or somewhere along the gas delivery tube.

Loosen the setscrew that locks the shutter or plate, and adjust the opening to increase or decrease the amount of air mixing with the gas.

Turn the oven on again to verify the adjustment, repeating as needed.

Once the flame is correctly adjusted, turn off the oven and tighten the setscrew.

Check and replace a gas oven spark igniter:

Turn all of the appliance controls to OFF.

Open the door and remove the oven bottom and the baffle (see above).

Unscrew the igniter from its mounting bracket and inspect it for cracks or other defects. Replace it if it is damaged.

To replace a faulty igniter, find the ignition control module, unscrew the cover, and disconnect the module. Install the replacement part and test.

Check and replace a gas oven glow bar:

Turn on the thermostat.

Turn off power to the appliance.

Unscrew the cover plate over the glow bar ring at the back of the range and disconnect the plugs, or find the glow bar beneath the oven baffle.

Set a multimeter to RX1 (resistance times 1) and touch a probe to each glow bar terminal. Replace the glow bar if it does not show continuity. If the glow bar has continuity, the safety valve may be faulty, requiring professional service.

Replace a faulty glow bar by unscrewing it from the burner support bracket and the oven wall, then pulling the glow bar free of the terminal block.

Mount the replacement glow bar in the burner support bracket, reconnect its plugs, and replace the metal cover.

Service a gas oven door:

To fix a cocked door, open the door and loosen the screws securing the inner panel. Hold the door at the top and twist it from side to side to seat it securely on its hinges.

Partially tighten the door screws; do not over-tighten screws on a porcelain door because you might chip the surface.

Test the seal by inserting a piece of paper between the seal and the top corners of the oven. The seal should tightly grip the paper.

To replace cabinet-mounted springs, remove the storage drawer and the door. Unhook and replace the springs. Replace both springs even if only one is broken.

Replace gas oven gaskets:

Unplug the oven or shut off power at the electrical service panel, shut off gas to the oven, and pull the oven away from the wall.

Remove the gaskets by unscrewing or un-clipping retainers.

Locate and loosen the oven liner bolts from the back of the unit.

Partially remove the oven liner by rocking it back and forth. Disconnect the gasket from between the liner and the cabinet.

Place the new gasket behind the oven liner rim.

Reinstall the oven liner and reattach it to the back of the oven.

Fix-It Tip

On self-cleaning ovens, the gasket is held between the panels of the oven door and can be replaced only by taking the door apart.

Replace gas oven door-mounted gaskets:

Unscrew the door hinge arms and remove the door.

Remove inner panel and edge screws as needed. You may need to carefully bend tabs to remove the cover.

Remove screws holding the window assembly to the panel.

Remove the window assembly to reveal the gasket attachment.

Remove the gasket between the window assembly and the inner door panel.

Install the new gasket in reverse order or by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

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